Five things to know about Bitbits, the new candy from Miguel Cabrera's Miggy Foods

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera tries on a paper crown for BitBits, a crunchy candy debuted at Comerica Park, Friday, May 19, 2017, in Detroit. The new candy is Miggy Foods' first product in the United States. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

MATTHEW B. MOWERY — The Oakland PressA new candy, bitbits, by Miguel Cabrera's Miggy Foods, will be available for sale at Comerica Park, starting this weekend.

DETROIT >> Miguel Cabrera launched a new line of candies, called Bitbits, on Friday, the next project in his continuing plan for a post-baseball life in business.

Here are five things to know about the product:

What are Bitbits, and what flavors are available?

With the exception of the peanut flavor, Bitbits are crisped rice covered in chocolate. The other flavors are milk chocolate, strawberry cheesecake and white chocolate.

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“My favorite is the peanuts. Chocolate and peanuts,” Cabrera said.

Getting into the food business was the idea of Miggy Foods chairman Daniel Satine, who brought it to Cabrera two years ago.

“That’s the brain right there,” Cabrera said of Satine. “I tried the candies, but he’s the expert, so … I can explain anything about baseball, but candy? I don’t know anything.”

He did admit that he liked sampling, though.

“I think Miguel likes it, because he likes to eat,” joked Chris Coello, a business development and finance specialist that works with Miggy Foods.

“It’s a very attractive market. There haven’t been a lot of new entrants into the mass market. There’s been a lot of high-end, boutique items coming out on the market, but there hasn’t been a real challenger to a Mars or a Hershey’s in a long time. With the experience we have behind us, with 30-plus years of experience in the food business, with Miguel and all his connections, we just thought it was a great fit to give these guys a run for their money.”

Where are Bitbits available?

For now, just at Comerica Park.

“Comerica Park is the exclusive venue … really I guess in the United States at this moment, where the product is available. That will soon change,” said Steve Harms, the Tigers’ vice president of corporate partnerships. “Right now, the only place to get the product is right here at the ballpark. It’s available at all our pro shops, it’s available in the Premo Grab N Go stand behind Section 147.”

That was Cabrera’s influence.

“Why we don’t start first in Detroit? That was my first idea, because most of the time, I live here,’ he said. “A lot of people know what I do in baseball here, so I want to be part of the community, too, so why we don’t start here in Detroit first?”

The Tigers have partnered with Miggy Foods, with advertising for the product throughout the ballpark (prior to Friday, it was a teaser campaign on those same spots).

The company plans to expand the availability of the candy quickly.

“Our first shipment just came into Michigan. Lipari Foods is distributing the product locally, and throughout their reach in the 12 states surrounding the Midwest,” Coello said. “Very soon, we’re going to national distribution. We’re going to go in to CVS, Kroger, Meijer, so it’s going to be available at all the major chains, spreading out from Michigan and Florida over the course of the next six to nine months. …

“At this point, we’re looking at other countries in South America and the Caribbean, as well as Central America. Eventually, we do want to branch out world wide.”

What sizes are available, and how much do they cost?

Initially, they’ll only be available in the 40 gram (1.41 oz) size, which are priced at $1.09. Eventually, they’ll also come in a 7.97 oz (226g) and a 10.58 oz (300g) HappySize bag made up of 15 smaller, 0.71 oz bags.

The 1.41 oz size bags are $1.09.

Where are they made?

For right now, they’re made in a factory in Brazil, but that, too, will change soon.

“We have a manufacturing facility down in Miami we’re completing a purchase on right now. It’s over 30,000 square feet,” Coello said.

What’s next for Miggy Foods?

Bitbits are not the only product planned.

“It’s the first of many products. This company is supposed to be a fun company. We wanted to start small, very concentrated with just the Bitbits product, because it’s a really, really unique product in the U.S.,” Coello said. “Immediately we’re going to bring a chocolate bar with crushed cereal inside, in both milk and white chocolate.